Mouse or rat trap



(No Model.)

B. M. MURRILL.

MOUSE'OR RAT TRAP.

No. 365,848. Patented July 5, 1887.

1 flttorney;

W1 m EssEs r I W N. PEIERS. Phuta-Lilhngraphur, Wnhingtan. D. c.

PATENT FFICE.

EDNVAR-D MARCELLUS MURRILL, OF CORNERSVILLE, TENNESSEE.

Mouse oR RAT TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,848, dated July 5, 1887.

I Application filed May 13, 1887. Serial No. 238,116. (No model.)

h To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD MARcELLUs MURRILL, a citizen of the United States, resid. ing at Gornersville, in the county of Marshall and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-Setting Mouse or Rat Traps, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in self-setting animal-traps; and it consists in certain novel features, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved trap. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. I Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, and Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates a box or other suitable receptacle, which.

may be of any desired size. The upper side edges of this box or receptacle are provided with the grooved flanges B, and one of its end walls, 0, has a vertical slot, D, in its upper part, which extends to the edge of the same.

E designates the lid and trap-doorsupport. It consists of the extended portion F, which serves as a platform to direct the animal onto the trap-door G, hinged thereto, and the open frame H surrounding the trap-door. This open frame H is provided with the upwardlyprojecting wall I, which extends along the sides of the same and across the end thereof. The end portion, J, of this wall I is provided with a vertical slot, K, and a bail or guard, L, upon the outer side of the end portion, J, extends across the lower end of the slot K'and limits the play of the trigger L, hung within the slot K. The open frame -H works in the grooves B, and thereby supports the trap-door in position over the box A, while the wall I prevents the rat or other animal on the trapdoor from running off the same over the side thereof.

M is the bait-hook and trigger, formed from a single piece of wire bent to form the loop N, which encircles a cross-wire, O, secured to the end portion of the wall J, and thereby pivotally supports the trigger and bait-hook. One end of the wire extends upward from the loop N and is bent double on itself to form the bait-hook P. The other end of the wire extends downward from the loop N to a pointjust below the plane of the top of the box A, where it is bent inward to form the shoulder Q, which supports the trap-door in its normal position. From this shoulder Q the wire is bent downward and outward on a gradual curve extending through the slot D and having a weight, R, attached to its extremity. S is a wire attached to the under side of the trap-door near its rear or hinged. end, and downward and rearward therefrom. A weight, T-, is secured on the end of the wire S and serves to counterbalance the weight of the trap-door and return the same to its normal position after having been depressed.

In operation the animal enters upon the trap-door G, and by nibbling at the bait will draw upon the baithook, so as to withdraw the shoulder Q, from under the trap-door. The Weight of the animal then causes the trap-door to instantly swing downward and precipitate the animal into-the receptacle A. This receptacle may be filled with water, so as to instantly drown the animal, or the animals may be althe same by sliding it along the grooves B in the upper portion thereof, as will be understood.

It will be seen that I have provided an extremely simple trap which is thoroughly efficient in operation. It will also be seen that all the working parts of my device are carried by the lid, and that the lid is independent of and removable from the box, whereby I am enabled to use one lid with vessels, or receptacles of different capacities.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

The combination of the box having the grooved flanges B and the slot D, the sliding top fitted in the grooved flanges and having the wall H, the trap-door hinged to the sliding I my own I have hereto affixed my signature in lid and entirely surrounded by the said well, presence of two Witnesses. and the trigger hung in said well and sup- EDWARD MARCELLUS MURRILL porting the'trap-door in its normal position 5 and extending downthrough the slot D in the Witnesses:

box, substantiallyas described and shown. W. A. BRIDGES,

In testimony that Ielaim the foregoing as I S. T. TALLY. 

